DailyDirt: More Advanced Weapons

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Technology has oftentimes advanced the weapons of war -- creating new ways to destroy things on increasingly larger scales. But as our ability to destroy has become ridiculously big, it's time to start looking for more efficient methods. Here are just a few military projects that are looking to improve targeted destruction.

Re: What an odd mixed -- and sanitized -- phrase.

I'd say "feeble" is a good descriptor for people who look at the destructive power we unleash through our militaries, and completely miss the fact that the result is destroyed human lives. The writer of this inane, uncritical post is a good example.

If only

"• Pick your ammunition, any ammunition you want... for an automatic gun that can shoot hundreds of rounds per minute. The US Army hasn't perfected such a weapon just yet, but it's looking for proposals that could make more versatile guns possible. [url]"

IF ONLY, they would try the same with charges and cables for phones and laptops, etc.

You do realize that most major militaries have anti-ship missiles, right? It's basically an upsized scud, which can be intercepted. Maybe we won't have a 100% hit rate in interception, but if you can't avoid the missile, I guarantee that more than one missile will be used in interception. Like any other attempt to penetrate a heavily layered defensive network, it requires saturation.

Mostly, I'm curious how they intend to handle targeting. The only viable option that could possibly provide detailed enough data to hit a moving target with a ballistic weapon would be a persistent satellite connection. You can't exactly get an airplane close enough to 'laze' the target after all, and if you can, the carrier is totally screwed to begin with.

If they attempt to use a sonar network, there's quite a few possible counter-measures there, making the missile an expensive long range waste that could only potentially get a lucky hit in.

On board radar guidance? Chaff can screw that completely. IR? Flares. Also, I'm not sure if a Carrier has a good enough IR signature to confidently launch a missile and hope you hit it instead of a another ship. Visual guidance? Useless on a cloudy day, as now it can't target until it's too low to make the necessary course corrections.

No, I'm extremely curious as to what they're using for guidance if they expect it to actually be useful.